760 The HISTORY of the PVTOTANS. Chap. X. K.Charlesl. thefefoundations. It muff be confeffed that two days after [ran. I2.] ' the king fent a meffage to the houle, waving his proceedings with refpekt to the five members, and promifing to be as careful of their privileges as Rutm of his life or crown ; and a little after offered a general pardon but the Vol. IV. commons had too much reafon at this time not to depend upon his P. 492. royal promife ; they Witted that the accufed members fhould be brought to their trial in a legal and parliamentary way; in order to which they defired his majefty to inform them, what proof there was againft them ; it being the undoubted right and privilege of parliament, that no member can be proceededagainft without the corfent of the hou/è; which his ma- jefty refufing to comply with, removed further off to Windfor, and entered upon meafures very inconfiftent with the peace of the king-. dom. Bilbopsnot To return to the bithops ; about a fortnight after their committment brought to [Yan. 17.] they pleaded to the impeachment of the houle of commons, _ their trial, not guilty in manner andform, and petitioned the lords for a fpeedy trial, which was appointed for the 25th inftant, but was put off from time to time, till the whole bench of bithops was voted out of the houfe, and Bill to, take then entirely dropt; for the very next day after their commitment, the away their commons defired the lords to refume the confideration of the bill that voter nevi- had been fent up fome months ago, for taking away all temporaljurif- ved. dictionfrom thefe in holy orders, which the lords promifed : it had paffed the commons without any difficulty about the time of the irijh infurrec- tion, and was laid afide in the houfe of lords, as being thought impof- Claren. fible to pats while the bithops votes were entire : when it was revived at Vol I. this junkture, the earl of Bedford and the bithop of Rochefter made a vi- 4262' gorous (land againft it. His lordthip urged, that it was contrary to the ufage of parliament when a bill had been once rejefted to bring it in a fe- coud time the fame fefion. To which it was replied, that it was not the fame bill [having a new title] though it was to accomplifh the fame end. Befides, the diftrefs of the times required force extraordinary mea- fores for their redrefs ; and further, fince the king had been gracioufly pleated to pats an ad for the continuance of this parliament as long as they thought fit to fit, and thereby parted with his right of proroguing or diffolving them,- the nature of things was altered, and therefore they were And pales not to be tied down to the ordinary forms in other cafes. The queftion the houfe of being put, whether the bill (hould be read, it paffed in the affirmative; turd:. which the confiderationof it was refurued, and after forre few debates the bill was paffed by a very great majority, .Feb. 6. 1640-2. the citi- zens of [.,ondon exprefing their fatisfadion by ringingof bells and bonfires. But it was (fill apprehended that the king would refufe his affent, becaufe when Ciaren. Vol. I. p. 227.
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